NEW WEBSITE FEATURE:
MOA Online Directory Webpage
Check out our new online organic business Directory, highlighted in yellow on the menu bar on the left. Get your farm, business or organization listed in the Directory by becoming a member here.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Glasgow Seminars 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010, in Glasgow, MT
Visit here for details.

MOA Conference and Member Meeting
Saturday, November 6, 2010, Missoula, MT
Details coming soon



CURRENT NEWS:
Senator Tester has signed on to a congressional letter addressed to USDA regarding GE alfalfa. Senator Leahy and Representative DeFazio initiated this letter to point out the serious shortcomings of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roundup Ready alfalfa. You can access a link to the letter here.

Over 150 organizations have signed onto a letter to U.S. Senators asking them to support amendments by Senators Jon Tester and Kay Hagan to S. 510 to protect the viability of small local processors and farms that sell direct to consumers. Read more and sign on here.

More Than 200,000 NGOs, Farmers, Consumers, and Organic Producers Call for USDA to Prohibit Genetically Engineered Alfalfa.
The National Organic Coalition (NOC) announced on March 3, 2010, that more than 200,000 people submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture, critiquing the substance and conclusions of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa. Groups, including NOC, Center for Food Safety, Organic Consumers Association, Food & Water Watch, CREDO Action, Food Democracy Now (and the Montana Organic Association), mobilized their communities to help generate the unprecedented number of comments. Read more here.

Food Safety Bill News
Tester to introduce ‘common sense’ amendments to food safety bill, April 14, 2010, press release. Resulting blog by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, April 14 and news story by the Billings Gazette, April 15.

USDA’s Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, responds to MOA’s letter urging support of organic issues. Read here.

David Edward Buschena (1964-2010)
Respected colleague, David Edward Buschena, passed away on April 26. David and his meaningful work will be greatly missed. Read his obituary here.

Job Opening
Oregon Tilth - Organic Conservation Specialis. More here.

NOSB Update
Read Barry Flamm's NOSB Update here. Posted May 16, 2010.
The USDA is seeking nominations to the NOSB board. Deadline is July 17, 2010. More here.

Video of the Week
Toxic Chemicals Lobby: Exclusive Leaked Footage
OCA, July 14, 2010

Action Alerts
Rescue Local/Organic Farming in the Food Safety Bill – Call your Senator Today, Cornucopia Institute, April 5, 2010.
Millions Against Monsanto, Organic Consumers Association, April 2010.

Montana Solutions: A Documentary of Grassroots Leadership
Innovative Montana farmers and ranchers dedicated to sustainable agriculture and renewable
energy are the subject of this ongoing documentary photo offering by Katie Knight.


Download MOA's new brochure here.


Working Toward Another Bountiful Growing Season
The growing season might just be gearing up, but MOA is busy with event planning, publication production, web development and organizational planning for 2010. Please bookmark this site and visit again soon for updated information.

We look forward to serving you and welcome any comments, suggestions or ideas on how to make MOA a more effective organization for you.